Quick change hinge assembly

ABSTRACT

A QUICK CHANGE HINGE ASSEMBLY FOR PIVOTALLY COUPLING MEMBERS. A PAIR OF HINGE BLOCKS MOUNTED TO A FIXTURE HACE LATERALLY EXTENDING PIVOT PINS. A FIRST MEMBER HAVING LATERALLY EXTENDING SOCKETS WITH ENTRY SLOTS IS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO A PAIR OF THE INWARDLY EXTENDING PINS MOUNTED TO THE HINGE BLOCKS. A SECOND MEMBER IS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO THE OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PIVOT PINS MOUNTED TO THE HINGE BLOCKS. ANOTHER EMBODIMENT HAS HORIZONTALLY SPACED HINGED BLOCKS MOUNTED TO A FIXTURE WITH THE HINGE BLOCKS HAVING LATERALLY EXTENDING SOCKETS. A FIRST MEMBER HAS OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PIVOT PINS RECEIVED IN THE SOCKETS WHEREAS A SECOND MEMBER HAS INWARDLY EXTENDING PIVOT PINS RECEIVED IN THE SOCKETS. A THIRD EMBODIMENT HAS A PAIR OF HINGE BLOCKS WITH LATERALLY EXTENDING SOCKETS AND ENTRY SLOTS PIVOTALLY RECEIVING PIVOT PINS MOUNTED TO A FIRST MEMBER. ADDITIONAL PINS ARE MOUNTED TO THE FIRST MEMBER AND EXTEND OUTWARDLY INTO LATERALLY EXTENDING SOCKETS AND ENTRY SLOTS OF A SECOND MEMBER. IN THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT, THE FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS ARE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO A SINGLE PIN WHICH IS REMOVABLY MOUNTED TO A PAIR OF SPACED APART AND UNCONNECTED HINGE BLOCKS. THE PIN HAS CRESCENT SHAPED PORTIONS RECEIVED BY LATERALLY EXTENDING SOCKETS AND CHANNELS OF THE MEMBERS.

1 June 28, 1974 1 1 QUICK CHANGE HINGE ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: Vernon L. Waldon,-Crawfordsville,

Ind.

[73] Assignee: ingress Manufacturing Co., 1nc.,

- Crawfordsville, Ind.

[22] Filed: Feb. 23,1972

[21] Appl. No.: 228,562

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 123,741, March 12,

[52] US. Cl. 4/236 [51] Int. Cl A47k13/l2 [58] Field of Search 4/234, 236, 237, 240; 16/171 [56} References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 537,440 4/1895 Cornelius 4/236 997,449 7/1911 Henn et a1. 4/236 1,496,466 6/1924 Jackson 16/171 1,528,864 3/1925 Warth 4/236 2,032,257 2/1936 Carmichael 4/236 2,240,220 4/1941 Leslie 4/236 2,333,732 11/1943 Morris 4/240 2,500,594 3/1950 Young 4/236 2,794,208 6/1957 Scroggins 16/171 3,038,173 6/1962 Turek et a1. 4/236 3,063,063 11/1962 Brooks 4/236 3,191,219 6/1965 Vagi ..16/171 3,261,029 7/1966 Beneke, Jr r 4/236 3,471,874 10/1969 Dixon 4/237 X 3,557,393 1/1971 Waldon 4/236 3,590,401 7/1971 Brown 4/236 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,134,486 12/1956 France 4/240 309,368 8/1955 Switzerland.....- 16/171 639,837 3/1962 ltaly 16/171 922,795 4/1963 Great Britain 4/236 258,507 11/1967 Austria 16/171 1,200,475 6/1959 France 4/236 22,997 4/1949' Finland 16/171 602,911 3/1960 Italy 4/236 1,203,099 8/1970 Great Britain... 4/236 Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Assistant Examiner-D0nald B. Massenberg Attorney, Agent, or FirmWoodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton [5 7 ABSTRACT A quick change hinge assembly for pivotally coupling members. A pair of hinge blocks mounted to a fixture have laterally extending pivot pins. A first member having laterally extending sockets with entry slots is pivotally mounted to a pair of the inwardly extending pins mounted to the hinge blocks. A second member is pivotally mounted to the outwardly extending pivot pins mounted to the hinge b1ocks.' Another embodiment has horizontally spaced hinged blocks mounted to a fixture with the hinge blocks having laterally extending sockets. A first member has outwardly extending pivot pins received in the sockets whereas a sec- 0nd member has inwardly extending pivot pins re ably mounted to a pair of spaced apart and .unconnected hinge blocks. The pin has crescent shaped portions received by laterally extending sockets and channels of the members.

12 Claims, 30 Drawing Figures Pmmanm I91 (820 175 SHEU 5 OF 6 PATENTEDJUN28 m4 ahamwa sum 6 0F 6 QUICK CHANGE HINGE ASSEMBLY This application is a continuation-in-part of my U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 123,741 of the same title and filed on Mar. 12, 1971.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is in the field of hinges.

2. Description of the Prior Art A number'of hinges have been devised for pivotally coupling a plurality of members. A representative sample of the prior art includes the following disclosures:

No. 3,557,393 issued to Waldon No. 1,496,466 issued to Jackson No. 2,240,220 issued to Leslie No. 2,333,732 issued to Morris No. 2,500,594issued to Young No. 3,038,173 issued to Turek et al.

No. 3,063,063 issued to Brooks No. 3,261,029 issued to Beneke, Jr.

No. 3,471,874 issued to Dixon No. 922,795 issued to Ideal-Standard SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of the present invention includes a quick changehinge assembly comprising a pair'of hinge blocks securable to a fixture, pin means mounted to the blocks, a first and second member pivotally mounted to the pin means with the first member having a pair of sockets and the second member having a pair of chan- Pat.

nels. The pin means project into the sockets and channels both of which have pin entry slots enabling the members to be removed without removing the hinge blocks or pins from the fixture.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a quick change hinge assembly which allows relatively quick and easy coupling of members.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge assembly having crescent shaped pivot pins which are relatively stronger than the prior art pivot pins and which will either snap into orentirely out of slots rather than breaking the pin receivers.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hinge assembly for pivotally coupling a lid and ring to a toilet bowl.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of toilet members embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an end view looking in the direction of arrow 3 of FIG.- 2 illustrating details of the hinge construction.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along a line and viewed in the direction of arrows 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along a line and viewed in the direction of arrows 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along a line and viewed in the direction of arrows 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along a line and viewed in the direction of arrows 77 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is the same view as FIG. 6 only showing an alternate pin.

FIG. 9 is the same view as FIG. 7 only showing an alternate pin. FIG. 10 is the same view as FIG. 3 only showing the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along a line and viewed in the direction of the arrows 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along a line and viewed in the direction of the arrows 12-12 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along a line and viewed in the direction of arrows 13-13 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is the same view as FIG. 11 only showing an alternate pin.

FIG. 15 is the same view alternate pin. I

FIG. 16 is the same view as FIG. 3 only showing a third embodiment incorporating the present invention.

as FIG. 13 only showing an FIG. 17 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along a line and viewed in the direction of arrows 17-17 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along a line and viewed in the direction of arrows 18-18 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along a line and viewed in the direction of arrows 19-19 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along a line and viewed in the direction of arrows 20-20 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating the removal of a crescent shaped pin from a socket.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 18 only showing the double sided pin.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 20 only showing the double sided pins.

FIG. 24 is an end view looking in the same direction as FIG. 3 only showing the preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 25 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along a line and viewed in the direction of arrows 25-25 of FIG. 24.

F1626 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along a line and viewed in the direction of arrows FIGQ28 is afragmentarycross-sectional view taken along a 'line'and viewed in the direction of arrows 28-28 of FIG. 24...

FIG. 29 is a side view of mounting member 207 viewed in the same direction as FIG. 27 with the pin re.-.

moved;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the pin shown in FIG.

DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED I EMBODIMENTS For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, referencewill 'now'be made to the embodiments illustrated in thefdrawingsi.

and specific language will be usedto describe thesame. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is therebyintendedj such al f terations and further modifications in the illustrated'de j vice, andfsuch further applicationsof the'principl'esof J V the invention'as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur, to one skilled in the art to a which the invention relates.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2,'there is shown Ja toilet'seat ring 31 and a toilet seat lid pivotally' mounted atop flange 32 of a conventional toilet. :A

quick change hinge assembly allows for the quick-and I1 easy removal of the ring and lid from flange 32."FIG.-

3 is an end view lookingin the direction of arrow 3 of FIG. 2 showing the 'first'embodiment of the quick change hinge assembly. A pair of bosses or hinge tegrally mounted to the horizontal plate 33 secured to the toilet bowl flange. A variety of means may be'utiblocks 34 and35 are horizontally spaced apart and in-' li'zed to secure plate 33to the flange of the toilet. For

example, a plurality of studs 50 (FIG. 2) maybe connected to plate 33 so as to extendfreely through fiange 32 being threadedly received by hexagonally shaped 33'so as to "not be visible. A pair of 'pins 36 and 37, are

cantileveredlymounted to hinge block .34 andasecond.

7 nuts thereb-ysecuring the plate to. the toilet bowl flange.

' The heads of studs 50 may be concealed. withinplate '4 set of pins 38 and 39 are cantileveredly mounted to a a block '35, The pins extend into sockets formed in ring .31 and lid 30.

Ring 31 extends between hinge blocks 34 and 35 and has-a first recess 47 and a secondrecess 48 .for respecto the entry slot previously described, opens intosocket 42 with the width of the opening being denoted by item 1 58. Socket 42 has a side wall 53 of a general cylindrical configuration providing a bearing surface for contact ing. pin 36. Each '41 has a similar socket 43 and entry slot to that just described for ear 40. r V t V A variety of different shaped pins may be secured to blocks 34 and 35 for providing a bearing surface for the e r pivotal mounting of lid 30 and ring 31.- One such pin is shown in FIGS. 6' and 7. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line and viewed in the directionof arrows I 6- -6 showing pin 37 mounted to side74 of block 34. FIG..7 is a similarview only showing pin 36'mounted:

to side 75 of block 34..Pin. 37 will now' be described it being understood that a similar.description applies to;

pins 36, 38 and 39. Pin 37 has a concaxe surface 65 and rounded bearing surface. 5t'foricontactingwall 52 0f then moved apart so as to allow edge 79 to follow the concave surface 80 of the pin. The pin and socket are thenrnoved further" apart until the pin is completely disengaged from the socket as shown in position 77. Of

course, the pin and socket must first be rotated so as to allow edge .79 tofollow the concave. surface of the pin.

This rotational motion between. the pin and socket-is. caused by rotating the lid; 30 and/or ring 31 Pins 36;, I t

37, 38 and-39are aligned so. as todefinearris-46-about 1 1 whichilid; SGandring 31 arepivotable. Lid 30 is pivoted in the direetion ofarrow 'll torhedashed-line position .72 (FIGS) in orderto removethe lid from pins 36 and, a

39. The lid isthen pulled upwardly seas to disengage the pin from the socket of ears 40'and 41 inthe'manner previously described and illustrated in FIG. 21.-Ring 31 a may then be removed by pivoting the ring about axis 46 in the direction of' arrow '73 (FIG, 4) and then pulled tively'receiving blocks 34 and35. FIG. 4 is a crosssectional view taken along a line and viewed in the di-' rection of arrows 4-4 of FIG. 3; illustrating recess 47. The recess is defined by sidewall 49 and lip 67. Socket 44 is located, on wall 49 having a sidewall 52 with a substantially cylindrical bearing surface. A similar socket is provided in ring 31 for receiving pin 38 of block 35. An entry slot 54 opens into socket 44 through side wall:

52 with the width denotedby item 57 being smallest at the opening. into socket 44. A'similar entry slot is. shown in FIG. 3 openinginto socket forreceiving pin 38'. Lip 67 and lip 68 extend upwardly from ring 31 around blocks 34" and 35 i so asfto conceal the blocks 1 whenviewed iooking downwardly fromthefront ofthe I toilet ring andlid.

Toilet lid 30 hasa pairgof ear s40 and 41' positioned outwardly and adjacent respectively blocks34 and35.

Ears 40' and 41 have sockets 42 and'43 loicatedthereon I for receiving pins 36 and 39. FIG. 5isa 'cro'ss v-sectional Y view oflid130 showing ear 40 having a sidewall 1561with 1 socket 42 located thereon. An entry slot 55, identical upwardly in order todisengage pins 37 and 38 from. the

sockets of ring 31. Ring 31 is removed in a manner identicalto theremoval' of lid 30. It is understood that a single pin extending through the sides of block34 may be utilized inlieu ofa pair of pins36; and 37 Like- 1 wise, it is understood that a single pin projecting through both sidesof block 35 would performv the same functions as: the pair' of pins 38and 39 his to be noted that the entry slots of sockets 42, 43, 44 and 45 are aligned and opened in the same direction when: lid 30' is positioned atop ring 31 asshown in FIG. 3. The concave surfacesof allxofthe pins open; in the'samedirection. The. substantially cylindricalsurtacestor the pins and socketsallow' for pivoting of lid30' and ring 3:1, about axis 46.1naddition, theientjry slotsof sockets42,

43, 44 and 45 interrupt the generally'cylindrical surfaces of the sockets extending radially eutwardfrom the cylindrical surfaces. Likewise,i theleylindrical sur faces of the pins 36-, 37,38zand 39am interrupted by the concave surface65. which mayalso be' considered an elongated groove havinga length coextensive with A a convex surface.66-.uConyex surfaee66- forrns a socket llieathicknesssfl of pin. across'c'onvex surface v66 is greater thanthe width 57'o'f'entry slot '54 the portion of the pins received in the entry slots. The chords 69 (FIG. 5) which extend across each sockets cylindrical surface at the opening of the entry slot and the chord 70 (FIG. 7) of the cylindrical surface of each pin which extends across the concave surface are both such as to accommodate removal of the pins from the sockets in a direction transverse to the direction of axis 46 in only two relative rotational positions of lid 30 and ring 31. That is, lid 30 and ring 31 may be disengaged from the pins only when the lid and ring are in a substantially vertical position. Thus, the lid and ring may be pivoted upward to a vertical position with the ring being removed first or-with the lid and ring being removed simultaneously. The toilet bowl shown in FIG. 2 in dashed lines prevents and acts as a stopping means to prevent the lid and ring from being pivoted downward to a substantially vertical position for removal of the pins from the sockets. Thus, the toilet bowl is a stopping means which limits relative rotation between the lid and ring and precludes the attainment of the downwardly vertical position.

An alternate pin is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and may be utilized in lieu of the crescent shaped pins of FIGS. 6 and 7. The pin shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 has a pair of parallel spaced apart flat sides 61 and 62 which are spaced apart a distance not greater than widths 57 or 58. The flat sides are joined on both ends by a pair of rounded oppositely facing sides 63 and 64 which are spaced apart a distance 60 greater than widths 57 or 58. The lid and ring must be pivoted to the upward vertical position for allowing the flat sided pins to be removed from the sockets.

. The second embodiment of the quick change hinge assembly is illustrated in FIG. 10 which is similar to the view of FIG. 3. The distinguishing featurebetween FIGS. 3 and 10 is that the pins are mounted to lid and ring 31 in FIG. 10 in lieu ofto the hinge blocks 34 and 35 as shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, the sockets are provided in the hinge blocks to receive the pins. A pair of horizontally spaced upstanding mounting bosses or hinge blocks 100 and 101 are identical each having laterally extending sockets with entry slots opening into the sockets. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view viewed in the direction of arrows l212 of FIG. 10 illustrating mounting block 100. Block 100 will now be described it being understood that a similar description applies to block 101. Block 100 has a socket 106 and entry slot 107 similar to that previously described for the socket and entry slot of ears and 41, the exception being that the entry slot opens vertically upward in lieu of the horizontal opening shown in FIG. 3. The socket and entry slot extend completely through mounting block 100 and receive pin 102 cantileveredly mounted to lid 30 and pin 103 cantileveredly mounted to ring 31. Pin 102 is mounted to ear 40 of lid 30 whereas pin 105 is mounted to ear 41 of lid 30. Ring 31 extends between blocks 100 and 101 in a manner similar to blocks 34 and 35. Likewise, ears 40 and 41 are spaced apart outwar'dly and adjacent blocks 100 and 101. Ring 31 has a pair of lips 67 and 68 previously described and illustrated in FIG. 3 which extend upward partially around blocks 100 and 101. Lips 67 and 68 thereby form recesses 47 and 48 and extension 108 which is positioned between the hinge blocks. Pins 102 through 105 extend only partially through the sockets thereby allowing independent rotation of ring 31 with respect to lid 30 and vice versa. As previously described, lips 67 and 68 are positioned over and conceal the hinge blocks.

Pins 102 through 105 are identical with respect to pins 36 through 39 with the exception that the concave surfaces 109 (FIG. 13) open vertically and upward in lieu of horizontally when the lid and ring are positioned horizontally. The concave surfaces 109 of the crescent shaped pins are aligned whenever the lid 30 abuts ring 31. The lid and ring must be pivoted to the upward vertical position since the entry slots open upwardly. As previously described for pins 36 through 39, pins 102 through have substantially cylindrical surfaces which contact thecylindrical surfaces of the sockets with the concave surfaces of the pins extending laterally along the lengths of the pins. The axis of rotation 46 of lid 30 and ring 31 extends through the centers of pins 102 through 105. I

FIGS. 14 and 15 show an alternate double sided pin identical to the pins previously shown and described in FIGS. 8 and 9 with the exception that the flat sides of pins 110 and 111 are horizontal when the lid and ring are horizontal. Pins 110 and 111 would replace pins 102 and 103 with pins identical to pins 110 and 111 also replacing pins 104 and 105. Pin 110 has a pair of flat sides spaced apart a distance not greater than the width of an entry slot opening into a socket whereas the rounded sides of pin 110 are spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the slot opening into a socket. Likewise, the pins and entry slots of the second embodiment are arranged so as to allow removal of the pins from the sockets only when the lid and ring are in a substantially vertical position.

The third embodiment of the quick change hinge assembly is illustrated in FIG. 16 and is substantially different from the first two embodiments of the hinge assembly. In the third embodiment, the hinge blocks and 141 have sockets and entry slots similar to the sec ond embodiment and receive pins having both ends attached to ring 146. In addition, the ring has a pair of cantileveredly mounted outwardly extending pins which are received in sockets provided in cars 40 and 41 of lid 30. The horizontally spaced upstanding blocks 140 and 141 are integrally mounted and interconnected to plate 33. Each block has a laterally extending socket with an entry slot identical to that described for blocks 100 and 101. Thus, this specification will not elaborate further on the sockets and entry slots of blocks 140 and 141. A pair of inner pins 142 and 143 are secured to ring 146 extending completely through the sockets of blocks 140 and 141 and across recesses 144 and 145 of ring l46'which respectively receive blocks 140 and 141. The pair of inner pins extend completely across these recesses and are crescent shaped or have flat sides as previously described for the first two embodiments. Each end of inner pin 142 and each end of inner pin 143 are fixedly connected to ring 146.

Recesses 144 and 145 form an extension 147 which extends between blocks 140 and 141 and a pair of flanges 148 and 149 which are positioned outwardly adjacent blocks 140 and 141. Blocks 140 and 141 are concealingly received by extension 147 whereas the extension 147 is concealingly received between ears 40 and 41 and lid 30 when viewed above and in front of the lid.

A pair of outer pins 150 and 151 are cantileveredly mounted to flanges 148 and 149 projecting outwardly into the laterally extending sockets formed in ears 40 shown in FIG. 3 as'well as for the embodiment shown in FIG. 10.'The concave surface 152 (FIG. 17). of pins l and 41. Thus, lid 30 is pivo'tally mounted onpins l50 and 151 whereas ring 146 ispivotally mounted by pins 142 and 143 on blocks 140 and 141. The size and configuration of pins 142','1-43, '150'an d' 151 is identical tcil the pins previously described for the embodiment 150 and 151 opens horizontally to .therear offlthe toilet" when the lid and: ring are horizontally positionedand are symmetrical about horizontal axis 154. The'concave surface 153 if pinsl42 and 143 open upwardly when ring 146 is positioned. horizontallyatop the toilet bowl. Concave surfaces 153 are symmetricalaboutver boss 2116 is mounted. Each'boss has a creseent shaped J5 channel 217 throughwhich pin 204' projects with chan-- nels 217. extending horizontally and beingcomplementary' in size andshape to ends 211 and 212 thereby preventing rotation of the pin with respect to: the hinge blocks. The mutually opposedzfaces 2'18 and 219 (FIG.

24) ofhinge block 207 and 208 each. have a c-ounterbore recess: 220- (F1629); adjacent toand surrounding channels 217. Discs 209 and 210 extend respectively into the recesses 220 of blocks 207 and 208 thereby preventing axial movement of the. pin: with respectjto .7

I the hinge blocksl-Iinge blocks 207 anjd208'aresetical axis-155 which isangularly positioned 9O with re-[f spect to horizontal axis154. Thus, the concave surfaces respect to the concave surfaces 152 of pins 151 and 150. It is also to be noted that the cylindrical surfaces 7 of all sockets and crescentshaped pins subtend an r angle greater than 180.

The third embodiment also includesa quick change. hinge assembly utilizingflat sided pins in lieu of the crescentshaped pins 142; 143,150 and 151. Theselflat sided pins are shown in FIGS. 22and 23 andiare identical to the flat sided pins previously described and'illus trated in the first and second embodimentsTwo outer flat sided pins157 (FIG. 22) are respectively cantile veredly mounted to flanges 148 and, 149 (-FIG. 16) pro-3 jecting into the laterally. extending sockets formed in cars 40 and 41. The flat sides of pins 157 are positioned v of pins 142 and 143 are angularly positioned 90 with 31 of'FlG; 3. Member 201 has a pair ofv spaced apart and mutually opposed flanges 222 and with each flange cured to fixture 203by fasteners 221' which exten'd downwardly frornbases 215 and into thefixtureBases 1 214 may be provided with a counterbored through hole at the end opposite bosses 216 with the head of the fasteners being received in the counterbored: holes.

. Mounting pads of a material such as rubbe'r are secured g? T V tothe bottom surfaces ofthe bases by GdhESlVCSLBGSSEST 216. are positioned at the ends'of bases 215 with the bases extendingoutwardly awayfrom the members 201 r and'202. The concave portion of thepinopens toward a f r Y members 201 and 202, toward the front bowl and away from fasteners 221. 7 Members 201 and 202 are similar to members 'and V havingasocket'into-which pin 204' projects.- Socket vertically when ring 146 is in a horizontal position. Two

inner flat sidedpins 156 (FIG. 23) are mounted to ring 146 extending across recesses 144 and 145 and'through the laterally extending sockets of blocks l40fand-141.. The flat sides of pins 156 are horizontally positioned when ring 146 is in a horizontal position. Thus, to retionwith ring 146'remaining in a horizontal position.

-move lid 30, the lid must be rotatedtoa verticalposh To'remove ring 146 from blocks 140 and 141, the ring must be pivoted to a vertical position, The parallel flat sides of pins 156 and 157 are spaced apart :adistance not greater than the width of the entrance slots opening into thesockets. Inaddition, the pair ofoppositely facing rounded sides of the flat sided pins are spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the entrance slot opening intothe'socketsr Shown in FIG. 24, is the preferred embodiment of the invention and includes a first and second adjacent member 201 and 202 which are pivotally and removably mounted atop a toilet bowl fixture 203. Member I 201, is a toilet lidwhereas member 202 is a toiletseat ring. The preferred embodiment is similarto the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 through 9 with the major exception that a single pivot pin 204 is utilized to mount the members to a pair of spaced apart and unconnected hinge blocks 207 and- 208.

Pin 204 (FIG. 30) has a main cylindrical body 205 witha pair of discs 209 and 21 0 integrally mounted thereto and arranged perpendicularly to pivotaxis'206 which extends centrally through the pin. The pin has opposite ends'2l1 and. 212 extending outward from discs 209 and '210 with each end having a crescent cross section. In addition, the portions 213 and 214immediately inward of discs 209 and 210 have crescent cross sections. 7 V 7 Each l'iin'geg bl0c,k207 and 208 isxseparatezandin cludes a base1215 (FIG. 29) upon which upstanding 223 will now be described it being understood thata similar description applies to socket 224. Socket 223 (FIG. 25);. is definedby asidev wall 227 which contacts the convex bearing surface of end 2110f pin 204 (FIG. 30). A pin entry slot 225 opens. through'side wall 227 allowing in 204 to pass therethrough' for removal of member 201 from the assembly. The convex bearing surfaces of ends'21 1 and 212 are cylindrical and are insockets 223- and 224; Likewise, diameter 228 is greater than the widths 229 of the entry slots. 230 (F1G. 28) as the slots open into sockets 231 and '232 provided re: spectively in. flanges r223 and'234 P161124) of rnemzber 202.'The major diameter 228 of pin body'205 is constant throughout the length of the pin with the eXcep-. 7

tion of the diameter of discs 209 and 210.

' Referring to FIG. 21, the pin shown there can repre- 2'5 3' sent pin 204 with the socket representing sockets 223 and 224 and pin entry holes 231 and. 23.2..The crescent shape of the pin is such so as to allow removal of members 201 and 202 from the pin when the members-are oriented in a specific manner. The crescent cross sectionhas a dimension from theconcave'to the convex surface thereof which is not greater than the widths 226 and 229. of the pin entry slots into the sockets 223 and 224 and pin entry holes 231 and 232..

The crescent cross section ofthepin; has pairs of parallel tangent lines. with the'spacin-gbetween tangent 7 lineson, the concave and couvexsurface not greater than the width of the slots. Forexample, lines 242-and l 243 are respectively tangent to points 240 and 241 on the convex and concave surfaces ofthe pin. The distance; 2441between theinarailei tangent lines i'sinot greaterthan the width 250 of the pin entry slotinto the of the toilet V l hole or socket receiving the pin. Likewise, the maximum distance 249 between lines 247 and 248 respectively tangent to point 245 and 246 on the convex and concave surface of the pin is not greater than the width 250. Thus, the maximum distance from tangent lines of each of the outboard convex surfaces of ends 211 and 212 which are parallel to tangent lines of their respective grooves is not greater than the widths 226 (FIG. of the first pin entry slots at the sockets to accommodate removal of member 201 from pin 204 in a direction transverse to the direction of pivot axis 206 beginning in only two relative rotational positions from the first member. Likewise, the maximum distance from tangent lines each of which is tangent to the inboard convex surfaces of portions 213 and 214 which are parallel to tangent lines of their corresponding channels is not greater than the widths 229 of the pin entry slots 230 at the pin entry holes to accommodate removal of member 202 from pin 204 in a direction transverse to the direction of pivot axis 206 beginning on only two relative rotational positions of member channel. The outboard surfaces and the inboard surfaces subtend angles in excess of 180. Each groove and channel are aligned and face in the same direction. The lengths of the elongated channels of portions 213 and 214 are co-extensive with the portion of the pin received in the pin entry holes 231 and 232. c v The hinge blocks 207 and 208 are positioned between flanges 222 and flanges 223 and 234. A pair of curved lips 252 and 253 are integrally connected to member 202 and extend upwardly and concealingly around the bosses of hinge blocks 207 and 208. Curved lips 252 and 253 are integrally joined together by curved wall 254 which extends upwardly over the top of pin 204. Likewise, member 201 has a curved wall 255 which extends between and connects flanges 222 and also extends upwardly with and over curved lips 252 and 253. The pin entryslots of members 201 and 202 are aligned and open in the same direction when the member 201 rests atop member 202 in a horizontal position. Fixture 203 extends beneath hinge blocks 207 restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

1. A quick change hinge assembly comprising:

a pair of spaced apart upstanding hinge blocks securable to a fixture;

circular pin means defining a single pivot pin with a radius, said pin being mounted to said blocks and including a pair of outboard rounded bearing surfaces positioned outboard of said blocks and a pair of inboard rounded bearing surfaces positioned between said blocks, each of said outboard bearing surfaces are cylindrical and are interrupted each by a separate elongated groove located outward of said blocks, each of said inboard bearing surfaces are'cylindrical and are interrupted each by a separate elongated channel located inward of said blocks, each groove and each channel being a completely radially formed concave surface with each concave surface subtending an angle in excess of with said angle being defined and included between opposite intersecting outermost tangent lines to said concave surface providing a crescent shaped pin cross section at each groove and each channel; and,

a first member and a second adjacent member re movably and pivotally mounted to said pin means about said axis, said first member being a toilet seat lid having a pair of spaced apart and mutually opposed flanges having sockets into which said pin means project, said sockets having walls contacting said outboard bearing surfaces and having first pin entry slots opening through said walls allowing said pin means to pass therethrough for removal of said first member, and, said second member being a toilet seat ring having flange means including oppositely facing surfaces, pin entry holes located on said oppositely facing surfaces and sidewalls defining said holes and bearingly receiving said inboard bearing surfaces, said flange means including second pin entry slots opening through said side walls allowing said pin means to pass therethrough for removal of said second member.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the maximum distance between tangent lines of each of said outboard bearing surfaces'which are parallel to tangent lines at the maximum depth of their corresponding groove is not greater than the widths of said first pin entry slots at said sockets .to accom-- modate removal of said first member from said pin means in a direction transverse to the direction of said pivot axis beginning in only two relative rotational positions of said first member.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein:

each separate elongated channel has a length coextensive with the portion of said pin means received in said holes;

the maximum distance between tangent lines of each of said inboard bearing surfaces which are parallel to tangent lines at the maximum depth of their corresponding channel is not greater than the widths of said second pin entry slots at said holes to ac-v commodate removal of said second member from said pin means in a direction transverse to the direction of said pivot axis beginning in only two relative rotational portions of said second member.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein:

said outboard bearing surfaces and said inboard bear ing surfaces subtend angles in excess of 5. The assembly of claim. 4 wherein: each of said hinge blocks has a boss;

, l 1 said second member has'a pair of curved lips extendingupwardly and concealingly around said bosses;

saidfirst member has a curved wall extending between and connecting said flanges which extends upwardly with and over said curved lips;

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein: saidrfirst pin,

entryslots and said second pin entry slots are aligned able by said ring and said lid topreclude attainment of one of said two relative rotational positions. 7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein:

each groove and each channel open toward the front 7 of said toilet bowl.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein: I 7 said hinge blocks each have a horizontally extending channel through which said single pin projects.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein:

each of said hingeblocks are separate and arenot in; a a

tegrally connected together, said blocks have mutually opposed faces with recesses thereon adjacent each pin channel, v said pin has a pair of projections of diameter larger than said pin extending into said recesses preventing axial movement of said pin. 10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein: said projections are discs integrally .mounted on'said pin perpendicular to said pivot axissaid recesses V in said opposed faces are counter-bores; which receive said discs.

11. The assembly of claim 9 wherein:

said pin at said pin crescent shaped cross section is received by eachrhinge block channel each of which is crescent shaped preventing rotational movement therebetween.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein:

7 said crescent cross section of said pinthas a maximum 7 diameter greater than the widths of said first pin 7 entry slots at said sockets and the widthsof said second pin entry slots at said holes, said crescent, cross sectionof said pin having a dimension, from' the concave to the convex surfaces thereof not greater than said widths of said first slots and said widths of said second slots allowing said first and second member to beremoved from'said'pin.

I v 1: r k I 

